Ontogeny and social context regulate the circadian activity patterns of Lake Malawi cichlids.

ABSTRACT: Activity patterns tend to be highly stereotyped and critical for executing many different behaviors including foraging, social interactions, and predator avoidance. Differences in the circadian timing of locomotor activity and rest periods can facilitate habitat partitioning and the exploitation of novel niches. As a consequence, closely related species often display highly divergent activity patterns, suggesting that shifts from diurnal to nocturnal behavior, or vice versa, are critical for survival. In Africa's Lake Malawi alone, there are over 500 species of cichlids, which inhabit diverse environments and exhibit extensive phenotypic variation. We have previously identified a substantial range in activity patterns across adult Lake Malawi cichlid species, from strongly diurnal to stron

SUBMITTER: Lloyd E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11233325 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature